From left, retired BYS staffer Larry Arrowood assists with the annual duck race coordinated by Matt Van Vactor, with entertainment provided by the BYS duck (aka Sylvia Knox). The Knox family Labrador retriever, Sam, again fetched the rubber ducks from the Marshall Habilitation Center lake this year to determine winners of the duck race prizes. Jeff Green and Cindy Narron helped out by delivering the rubber ducks to the middle of the lake for Sam to retrieve. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

The annual Butterfield Youth Services duck race and poker run fundraiser continues to grow, according to results from this year's event.

Matt Van Vactor, director of community relations, said the poker run attracted about 80 entries last year and organizers had hoped to get close to 100 this year.

But on Sunday, June 3, about 140 area bikers participated, much to Van Vactor's delight.

"That's a good day," he said."It was a fun day for all."

Participation in the duck race also grew, with 1,076 ducks adopted this year, versus about 800 last year.

And the amount of money raised topped last year, too. Van Vactor said preliminary estimates put the total raised at about $6,000 this year, about $1,000 more than in 2006.

Sam, the Labrador retriever owned by the Knox family of Gilliam, made two trips into the Marshall Habilitation Center lake, plucking two ducks from the water each time.

The winning duck owners were Ted Dull, Marie Turvey, Dale Kennedy and Kenneth McLain, none of whom are from Saline County. Van Vactor said BYS gets participation in the event from supporters around the country.

Poker run winners were closer to home. Brad Mull of Malta Bend took first place, Leroy Grubb of Independence took second place and Jeanie Alfrey of Marshall placed third, according to Van Vactor.

Contact Eric Crump at

marshalleditor@socket.net